Aspects Of Interaction Design Research Articles

Inclusive virtual simulation space: Digital technologies and design thinking process

This article demonstrates a case study in research-creation based on the extended reality (XR) placemaking initiative, and reports on the development of two iterations that are part of a digital technologies (DT) project. Various studies with a focus on restorative and relaxation applications have shown positive findings in improving mental wellness and self-awareness. We speculate that combining physical activity and exposure to digital nature can provide additional health benefits compared to restorative activities alone. The first iteration, Mind Space XR, is a virtual reality (VR) project that has the initial goal of supporting users to experience emotion-focused skills training based on mindfulness, emotion regulation and compassion in a low-risk environment. In this iteration of the DT project, we have focused on interaction design aspects and the research-creation process required to develop the information architecture framework of an early prototype. This ongoing research then informs the development of a second iteration, the ‘inclusive virtual simulation space’ – a VR learning simulation initiative that supports users to experience customizable content in an inclusive environment. Combining Australian Curriculum areas from DT and the humanities and social sciences, this study will experiment with the human–computer interaction process with the goal of configuring a modular high-fidelity virtual environment to achieve perceived ease of use by user groups including creators, educators and students. This will lead to a proof-of-concept platform with the flexibility to integrate digital content that permits the co-creation of digital prototypes driven by inclusive virtual and physical placemaking and simulation learning. This educational inclusive virtual simulation project focuses on experimenting with and introducing education technology and XR skills and knowledge to educators and creators, which is broadly applicable to education-based DT contexts.

Assessment of Applicability of the Service Design Method on Electric Vehicles

The objective of our research work is to assess the applicability of the service design methods on electric passenger cars with special focus on the Central European region. To achieve this goal, the classification and critical evaluation of the key customer touchpoints (such as webpages, showrooms, test drives, events etc.) that could be relevant in the whole sales process are necessary, along with the definition of the sales channel can be dedicated as a key tool of the deeper research. Our further objective is to define such elements of the user experience that are only typical in the case of electric vehicles, therefore they require special process design solutions. As an additional research output, our aim is to highlight the different preferences and needs of the users of electric vehicles compared to the online communication of producers. This could be especially significant in interaction design aspects.

Setting the stage – Embodied and spatial dimensions in emerging programming practices

In the design of interactive systems, developers sometimes need to engage in various ways of physical performance in order to communicate ideas and to test out properties of the system to be realised. External resources such as sketches, as well as bodily action, often play important parts in such processes, and several methods and tools that explicitly address such aspects of interaction design have recently been developed. This combined with the growing range of pervasive, ubiquitous, and tangible technologies add up to a complex web of physicality within the practice of designing interactive systems. We illustrate this dimension of systems development through three cases which in different ways address the design of systems where embodied performance is important. The first case shows how building a physical sport simulator emphasises a shift in activity between programming and debugging. The second case shows a build-once run-once scenario, where the fine-tuning and control of the run-time activity gets turned into an act of in situ performance by the programmers. The third example illustrates the explorative and experiential nature of programming and debugging systems for specialised and autonomous interaction devices. This multitude in approaches in existing programming settings reveals an expanded perspective of what practices of interaction design consist of, emphasising the interlinking between design, programming, and performance with the system that is being developed.

Creative practice-based research in interaction design

This article describes interactive artworks exhibited at Experimenta Prototype 2002, House of Tomorrow 2003, and at Vanishing Point 2005. These works were developed through an incremental research process that explored perceptual, aesthetic, and technical aspects of interaction design. The exhibitions provided an opportunity to observe audience response and critically reflect on the hypotheses embodied in the artifacts. The first work, titled OpShop, began as an experiment on interaction with far-distant objects in a virtual environment called the CyberStage. The second, ZiZi the Affectionate Couch, animated an inanimate object by mixing digital media with a piece of furniture. The third, called the Cocktail Party Effect, is a psychological exploration of the mental image of an object communicated in the absence of visual perceptions, and an experiment in developing the narrative language of touch and sound. We describe the history and ongoing trajectories of these works, and provide insights into interaction design gained through this creative practice-based research process.